Some overcome with indignation, impetuously prepared for the chase, but
others, perhaps more determined men, who were willing to follow on to the
very death, were not so hasty in their departure, but as time proved were
prepared to pertinaciously follow up the trial with the tenacity of the
bloodhound.
Two of the former, Davis and Hayes, immediately sought for horses and none
being so ready as those of the two dead robbers, seized them, sprang into
the saddles, and were soon in hot pursuit.
Both men were well armed with rifles—one an eighteen shot Winchester with
globe sight. At every point they heard of the retreating villians upon
whom they were gaining rapidly. Dashing through Dundas, Hayes and Davis
kept up the pursuit till at last they saw a group of horsemen surrounding
a wagon from which they were apparently taking the horses. As the pursuers
advanced one of the horsemen turned from the wagon, and advancing a few
steps up the road ordered the pursuing men to halt.
Davis and Hayes instinctively obeyed, and strange to relate, these two men
who had been so impatient to commence the pursuit, now that they were
confronted by the audacious scoundrels found their courage waning, and
they halted.
Nor did they again find their courage return, but they sat there and saw
the marauders after securing one of the farmer’s horses again boldly dash
away.
After the robbers had gone, Davis and Hayes leisurely wended their way to
Millersburg where they awaited the coming of the other pursuers, two men
standing but little chance against six such desperadoes.
It is true that Davis and Hayes had the advantage of the bandits in arms,
but it is doubtful after all, if there are many men to be found who would
have done differently, confronted as they were by six stalwart fierce
knights of the road well armed and unscrupulous in shedding human blood,
as they had shown at Northfield.
After the departure of Davis and Hayes, about thirty citizens organized
into a pursuing party, some mounted on horses, others were carried in
wagons and buggies, and all set out in full speed along the road the
robbers had taken.